The Anatomy and Physiology of the Respiratory System

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The Anatomy and Physiology of the Respiratory
System
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Functions of the Respiratory System

• Air Distributor
• Gas exchanger
• Filters, warms, and humidifies air
• Influences speech
• Allows for sense of smell

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Divisions of the Respiratory System

• Upper respiratory tract (outside thorax)
• Nose
• Nasal Cavity
• Sinuses
• Pharynx

Larynx
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Divisions of the Respiratory System

• Lower respiratory tract (within thorax)
• Trachea
• Bronchial Tree
• Lungs

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Structures of the Upper Respiratory Tract

• Nose - warms and moistens air
• Palantine bone separates nasal cavity from mouth.
• Cleft palate - Palantine bone does not form
  correctly, difficulty in swallowing and speaking.
• Septum - separates right and left nostrils
• rich blood supply nose bleeds.
• Sinuses - 4 air containing spaces open or drain
  into nose - (lowers weight of skull).

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Structures of the Upper Respiratory Tract

• Pharynx - (throat)
• Base of skull to esophagus
• 3 divisions
• Nasopharynx - behind nose to soft palate.
• Adenoids swell and block.
• Oropharynx - behind mouth, soft palate to hyoid
  bone.
• tonsils
• Laryngopharynx - hyoid bone to esophagus.

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Structures of the Upper Respiratory Tract
Pharynx Continued

• Changes shape to allow for vowel sounds
  phonation.

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Structures of the Lower Respiratory Tract

• Larynx - voice box
• Root of tongue to upper end of trachea.
• Made of cartilage
• 2 pairs of folds
• Vestibular - false vocal cords
• True vocal cords

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Structures of the Lower Respiratory Tract larynx
cont

• Thyroid cartilage - adams apple - larger in
  males due to testosterone.
• Epiglottis - flap of skin (hatch) on trachea,
  moves when swallowing and speaking.
• closes off trachea when swallowing food

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Structures of the Lower Respiratory Tract

• Trachea (windpipe)
• Larynx to bronchi
• Consists of smooth cartilage and C shaped rings
  of cartilage.
• Tracheostomy - cutting of an opening in trachea
  to allow breathing.

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Structures of the Lower Respiratory Tract

• Bronchi
• Tubes that branch off trachea and enter into
  lungs
• Ciliated
• Branches Primary bronchisecondary
  bronchitertiary bronchibronchioles
• Bronchioles branch into microscopic alveolar
  ducts. Terminate into alveolar sacs
• Gas exchange with blood occurs in sacs.

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Structures of the Lower Respiratory Tract
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Structures of the Lower Respiratory Tract

• Lungs
• Extend from diaphragm to clavicles
• Divided into lobes by fissures.
• Visceral pleura adheres to the lungs.
• Pleurisy inflammation of the pleural lining

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Bronchioles
(Plural bronchi)
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Respiratory Physiology

• Pulmonary Ventilation breathing
• Mechanism
• Movement of gases through a pressure gradient -
  hi to low.
• When atmospheric pressure (760 mmHg) is greater
  than lung pressure ---- air flows in
  inspiration.
• When lung pressure is greater than atmospheric
  pressure ---- air flows out expiration.

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Respiratory Physiology

• Pressure gradients are established by changes in
  thoracic cavity.
• increase size in thorax a decrease in pressure
  --- air moves in.
• Decrease size in thorax increase in pressure
  --- air moves out.

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http//people.eku.edu/ritchisong/301notes6.htm
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Inspiration

• -contraction of diaphragm and intercostal muscles

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Expiration

• relaxation of diaphragm and intercostal muscles

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Volumes of Air Exchange

• Tidal volume - amount of air exhaled normally
  after a typical inspiration. Normal - about 500
  ml
• Expiratory Reserve volume - additional amount of
  air forcibly expired after tidal expiration (1000
  - 1200 ml).
• Inspiratory Reserve volume - (deep breath) amount
  of air that can be forcibly inhaled over and
  above normal.
• Residual volume - amount of air that stays
  trapped in the alveoli (about 1.2 liters).

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Volumes of Air Exchange

• Vital capacity - the largest volume of air an
  individual can move in and out of the lungs.
• Vital capacity sum of IRVTVERV
• Depends of many factors
• size of thoracic cavity
• posture
• volume of blood in lungs ? congestive heart
  failure, emphysema, disease, etc

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Volumes of Air Exchange

• Eupnea - normal quiet breathing, 12-17 breaths
  per minute.
• Hyperpnea - increase in breathing to meet an
  increased demand by body for oxygen.
• Hyperventilation - increase in pulmonary
  ventilation in excess of the need for oxygen.
• Someone hysterical Breathe into
• exertion paper bag.
• Hypoventilation - decrease in pulmonary
  ventilation.
• Apnea - temporary cessation of breathing at the
  end of normal expiration.

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Heimlich Maneuver

• Lifesaving technique that is used to open a
  windpipe that is suddenly obstructed.
• Air already in lungs used to expel object.

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Heimlich Maneuver

• Technique - Conscious victim
• Ask the victim if he/she can talk
• Stand behind victim and wrap your arms around
  their waist.
• Make a fist with one hand and grasp it with the
  other hand.
• Place thumb side of fist below xiphoid process
  and above navel.
• Thrust your fist in and upward - about 4 times.
• DO NOT press on ribs or sternum

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Heimlich Maneuver

• Technique - Unconscious victim
• Catch victim if they begin to fall - place on
  floor face up.
• Straddle hips
• Place one hand on top of other on the victims
  abdomen - above navel and below xiphoid process.
• Forceful upward thrusts with heel of hand -
  several times if necessary.

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Review Questions

• 1 Which of the following is not a function of the
  respiratory system?
• A. influence speech
• B. Distribution of oxygen to cells
• C. Filtration of air
• D. Warming of air

B
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2

• The common name for the trachea is _______

Windpipe
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3

• The structure known as the Adams Apple located
  in neck is the _____

Thyroid Cartilage
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4

• The smallest branches of the bronchial tree are
  the
• Primary bronchi
• Secondary bronchi
• Tertiary bronchi
• Bronchioles

D
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5

• The flap or opening to the trachea is the
• Larynx
• Pharynx
• Epiglottis
• Vocal cords

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6

• The structure that separates the right and left
  nasal cavities is the ____________

Septum
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7

• The incorrect formation of the palantine bone
  during gestation is known as a __________

Cleft Palate
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8

• During inspiration which of the
• following does not occur?
• Diaphragm contracts
• Intercostals relax
• Diaphragm flattens
• Size of thorax increases

B
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9

• Which of the following activities is the
• best analogy of respiration?
• Exchanging gifts
• Giving a gift
• Receiving a gift
• Sitting in a chair

A
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10

• Air is forced into the lungs by the
• contraction of the
• Alveoli
• Bronchioles
• Diaphragm
• Heart

C